Category: Development

Categories
Business Development News

Jimmy Heath House to start welcoming new residents to Over-the-Rhine today

These days, development news in Over-the-Rhine is seemingly ubiquitous. The historic neighborhood is growing at a rapid rate and with new businesses constantly opening; new residents are flowing in. However, starting today another group will be calling the neighborhood home.

On Friday, Over-the-Rhine Community Housing (OTRCH) hosted a ribbon cutting for the Jimmy Heath House (map). The new permanent supportive housing development transformed 14,300 square feet of space in six historic buildings. The housing development includes 25 apartments for the chronically homeless, offices for case managers, as well as public meeting spaces to accommodate the social service needs of its residents.

OTRCH officials say that the development, named after homeless advocate and former Streetvibes editor Jimmy Heath, is based on the housing first principle; a concept that clinical and social stabilization is more affective when homelessness is eliminated.

“Housing First is a nationally recognized evidence-based best practice. Many cities and counties around the country already have Housing First programs in place or plans to initiate one,” Mary Burke Rivers, OTRCH Director, said in a press release. “The positive outcomes from the model are astonishing, and we are proud of our partners who have joined us in this progress.”

The benefits, of these new housing developments, extend beyond their social benefits. Studies show that significant economic gains can be had as well by reducing the cost often associated with homeless individuals. On average, studies indicate that it costs between $35,000 and $150,000 annually to support a homeless individual, while housing communities such as the Jimmy Heath House lower that average to just over $16,000 annually.

“People who are chronically homeless make up 34 percent of the homeless population and spend years cycling between the streets, shelters, jail cells, and emergency rooms,” Rivers said.

Residents of the complex are scheduled to start moving in as early as today.

“We’re looking forward to the possibilities for our residents: being able to connect with family members for the first time in years, going to a clinic instead of the emergency room, not drinking just to numb the bitter cold,” said Andy Hutzel, director of housing services for OTRCH. “We have one tenant, Paul, who will be able to get off of crutches after nine years because he can finally rehabilitate an injury following his fall from a roof – an impossibility while he was living under the 6th Street viaduct.”

Categories
Development News Transportation

Cincinnati to examine bus rapid transit as part of expanding transit network

As Cincinnati moves forward with the development of the Midwest’s first modern streetcar system, a political leader is pushing for even greater transit improvements that would compliment an increasingly diverse collection of alternative forms of transport.

Cincinnati Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls is proposing a robust network of bus rapid transit (BRT) that would connect the region’s commuters with major employment centers like Uptown and Downtown. Qualls believes BRT is a cost-effective and innovative transit strategy.

“Bus rapid transit incorporates many of the advantages of light rail, but is cheaper and can be implemented quickly,” Qualls said in a prepared statement. “Cities around the world and the country are giving commuters a great transit option now with rapid transit.”

Many cities around the United States and internationally are beginning to look at BRT more closely as a cheaper alternative to building dedicated rail transit systems. After first being popularized in Bogotá, Columbia, bus rapid transit now exists in 33 cities throughout the world with an additional 22 systems planned.

What differentiates BRT routes from other bus routes is the dedicated lanes they use. These dedicated corridors are often complimented by signal prioritization and timing that allows for faster travel times over long distances.

“Cities are looking to rapid transit to meet increased commuter demand and to spur development,” Qualls stated. “Because the conversion to rapid transit is faster and cheaper than developing light rail, it is an important interim step that helps build transit ridership and provides a great service in the near term.”

While some transit experts agree that BRT can serve as an integral part of an overall transit system, others believe that BRT can be compromised when pitched as an inexpensive alternative to light rail.

“If you look at Oakland, who was studying BRT, they’ve been working on the project for a long time and recently had the City of Berkeley decline to even study dedicated lanes even though that was the plan all along,” explained Jeff Wood, Chief Cartographer, Reconnecting America.  “They felt like they could do it cheaper than light rail, but now they aren’t even going to get any of the benefits of bus rapid transit.”

As part of Vice Mayor Qualls’ motion, BRT would be a portion of a larger multi-modal transit plan that would include the streetcar and light rail according to Cincinnati’s existing rail plan. Major corridors would include I-75, I-71, Queen City Avenue, Harrison Avenue, Vine Street, Reading Road, Madison Road, and Martin Luther King Drive. Qualls suggested the city aggressively pursue state and federal funds to pay for the development of bus rapid transit.

Those interested in learning more about bus rapid transit have the opportunity to meet with BRT expert Jack Gonsalves at the OKI Regional Council of Governments Board Room (map) on Monday, December 6 at 1pm.  Gonsalves will be joined by a variety of local leaders to discuss BRT and how it might be developed in Cincinnati.

Categories
Business Development News

New state-of-the-art UV water treatment facility to be powered by the sun

The City of Cincinnati and Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) broke ground earlier this month on a $30 million state-of-the-art Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfection Treatment Facility. The 19,600 square-foot facility, which is being built at the Richard Miller Treatment Plant on Kellogg Avenue, will make GCWW the largest water utility in North America to use UV disinfection following sand filtration and Granular Activated Carbon absorption.

UV disinfection does not use chemicals or produce significant levels of regulated disinfection by-products. Sand filtration removes larger particles from source water while GAC removes organic substances such as pharmaceuticals.

“We have spent the past 10 years conducting research with national and international groups to determine the best method to protect our customers from microorganisms that are resistant to chlorine disinfection,” said David Rager, GCWW director. “UV disinfection uses UV light, in low doses, to inactivate disease-causing organisms often found in water effluents that can end up in our source water.”

Officials say that in an effort to reduce GCWW’s carbon footprint, the new facility will include 160 solar panels. When paired with a second solar installation on an existing GCWW facility, significant environmental impacts are expected to be achieved annually:

  • 28,100 gallons of gasoline emissions offset– equivalent to offsetting emissions of 48 cars
  • 346,000 Kwh of energy – enough to power 33 homes
  • $151,000 in electricity costs

The UV disinfection treatment project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012. GCWW did receive rebates of approximately $150,000 from the State of Ohio for solar energy initiatives.

“Cincinnati has some of the best drinking water in the country and we are going to make it better,” Mayor Mark Mallory said. “This state-of-the-art new treatment facility illustrates the City’s commitment to continuous improvement. Our goal is to be on the cutting edge providing the cleanest, safest, tastiest drinking water in the country.”

Categories
Business Development News

Future looks bright for 152 residents at Cincinnati’s historic Anna Louise Inn

Anna Louise Inn

Cincinnati Union Bethel recently announced an award of tax credits for a $12.4 million renovation of the Anna Louise Inn (map) in downtown Cincinnati. The Inn, whose role is to provide affordable housing for women, secured the top ranking in a competitive Permanent Supportive Housing category from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency.

Since 1994, the Inn has provided traditional housing for homeless families and children, and since 2006 they have provided housing and services for women in recovery from prostitution. Half of those living in the Inn have resided there for over a year, some for up to 30 years.

After the renovation is complete, the residential capacity will be lower; however, the new units will be larger and equipped with private bathrooms and kitchens. Officials emphasize that the general mission of the Inn will not change, although there will be an increased focus on permanent supportive housing.

“There will be a slight decrease in the number of units due to the upgrades, but our goal is to preserve the safe and affordable housing needed for women today,” project manager Mary Carol Melton explained to UrbanCincy in August 2010.  “We’re going to work with residents during the renovation to make this as least disruptive as possible, and we are currently looking at a phased renovation process to be able to do just that.”

Staff says that it is the hope that the creation of a more permanent and supportive environment will help the residents become more stable long-term.

“These more stable and long-term residents will have an opportunity to live in housing that will provide them with the dignity they deserve,” said Steve MacConnel, CEO of Cincinnati Union Bethel. “Additionally, this fits in with the city’s Homeless to Homes plan…it is just one more piece of a city-wide plan to provide more supportive housing.”

Construction for the renovation is scheduled to last from summer 2011 to fall 2012, and the development team will consist of Over-the-Rhine Community Housing along with Cincinnati Union Bethel. When completed, the historic Inn will have a 152-person capacity.

Categories
Business Development News

Construction begins on $47.3M redevelopment of Washington Park

After years of planning, discussion and debate, construction that will renovate and expand Washington Park will officially begin today in historic Over-the-Rhine. The initial work will include excavation on the north end of the park that will eventually house a 450-space underground parking garage.

Project officials say that the underground garage is what sets the stage for the two-acre park expansion to the north. This expanded park area will include, above the garage, will include a 37,000-square-foot lawn, public plaza, and performance space for programming activities.

“We’re dedicated to returning the park to its original stature as a beautiful, public, green space with a variety of features for all neighborhood residents as well as visitors to enjoy,” said 3CDC President & CEO Stephen Leeper in a prepared release. “Creating great civic spaces like Washington Park and Fountain Square is one of 3CDC’s most important goals. They attract residents, businesses and visitors and truly define the character of a neighborhood.”

Over the past several months citizens have also had input on the design and process in which the renovations take place. One of the primary concerns has been around the disruption to the park itself and how nearby residents might be able to avoid total access denial. To address those issues, 3CDC in partnership with Turner Construction Company and Megen Construction Company have developed a plan that will keep the southern half of Washington Park open during the initial construction phase.

“Creating great civic spaces like Washington Park and Fountain Square is one of 3CDC’s most important goals,” Leeper continued. “They attract residents, businesses and visitors and truly define the character of a neighborhood.”

The project start is a realization of a plan first laid out in 2002 by residents, business owners, and other stakeholders in the historic neighborhood. That plan specifically called for the redevelopment of Washington Park, and the addition of a parking structure that could serve future business and residential growth nearby.

Project officials say that additional park renovations will proceed once the garage site is excavated, and that they anticipate the entire project to be complete by late spring 2012.